Making a noise of distress, she jabbed the knife in my direction. The action lacked skill and grace. “I’m not infected!”
I twisted out of the way, avoiding injury, and resumed my all-innocence stance.
“I’m not infected!” she repeated, looking ready to sob.
“I won’t turn you in to CURED,” I assured her. “Everyone is infected. I was too. But Soal is real, and he’s got a cure. Someone I trust is going to explain further.”
Hinges squeaked as a humming woman strode into the enclosure. Both Mykal and I froze again. The moment the newcomer’s identity pinged, I relaxed.
“Mykal, you remember Shiloh’s sister, Ember.” They used to live in the same building.
“Hello, Mykal.” Ember removed big, dark sunglasses. Dressed in a stark-white dress, with a scooped bodice and a hem that stopped justbelow her knees, she dazzled. She’d anchored her mass of hair in a sleek bun. A large hat cast shadows over her bold features.
I wanted to stay and help so badly. Mykal kept the dagger raised, her eyes as wild as a maddened amid a full breakage. But I had to go back.
“Please listen to her, Mykal. She’ll hide you from CURED. Keep you safe. Reveal the truth and expose lies.” Without another word, I raced out and retraced my steps.
By the time I reached my teammates, Miller was cuffing a pale, trembling citizen. The other three stood nearby, holding their own captives and cheering him on. My guards waited among them, tense.
Roman noticed me and scowled. “Pick someone,” he commanded. “I won’t lose this challenge because you couldn’t pee somewhere close.”
“No need.” I notched my chin. “I told you. I have a reason, so I don’t need a captive.”
He worked his jaw, clearly wishing to argue. In the end, he moved on. “Fine. I won’t force you. But if I’m punished because you refused to do your job, we’re gonna have a problem.”
“I’m good with those terms,” I said, and I meant it.
We made our way toward the bus. While we weren’t the first group to return, we were the second. Now, there were two vehicles parked at the curb, and armed guards flanked the doors of both. Three soldiers-in-training waited in a single-file line at the first, each holding a cuffed civilian.
One soldier came stomping out of the vehicle alone, discharging fury as if it was a round of bullets. He didn’t speak but made a beeline for the other bus. The next soldier entered with his captive. We took our places behind the last.
The line dwindled as trainees entered one after the other. Different groups arrived with cuffed citizens.
My turn. I lifted my chin and climbed the steps, my guards following. Duchess Mimidae reclined in a seat up front, with Dr. Korey beside her.
The duchess motioned to the spot across from her. “No offering for us?”
I eased down and shook my head. Carefully selecting my words to speak truthfully without elaborating, I said, “I bring you a reason. Without the proper tools, we cannot accurately judge who is and isn’t infected.”
The doctor narrowed her eyes. “Well, well, well. Cyrus must have tipped you off.”
“He didn’t.” So I’d gotten it right. I should celebrate, but I knew my teammates weren’t going to be happy for me. Considering Miller’s earlier taunt, they would believe as Dr. Korey did: that I’d had royal help.
“But that isn’t something we can prove, now, is it?” Duchess Mimidae dropped her gaze to my neck, as if she could see the flesh-colored necklace. “You may go, Lady Roosa.”
I joined the others on the original bus, and just as I’d suspected, no one applauded my win. In fact, no one glanced my way. Everyone ignored me.
Fine. That was fine. I chose a seat in the back and used the time to consider Mykal. Had she accepted Ember’s aid?
And what of Cyrus, who admitted he loved me? Loved. L.O.V.E. A smile of delight spread. Except, he probably expected me to return the sentiment. And I should. I wanted to, but ... I didn’t think I was ready. Which had nothing to do with Miller’s claim that Cyrus dumped women as soon as they fell.
Bye-bye, smile. Falling in love wasn’t something I’d contemplated. I’d feared the Madness too much to risk hooking my wagon to someone else’s. While I didn’t fear the Madness anymore, love meant forever. Becoming a family. Which was welcome, yes. Forever actually sounded good. Great! But love also meant risk in ways I’d not considered. What if I let myself fall, and he later tired of me the way my dad had tired of my mom? What if Cyrus died? I mean, we were traitors to CURED and in constant danger. Death wasn’t just possible, it was probable.
What if I couldn’t edit my book?
Worry trapped me in a bubble, leaving the world a distant blur. That bubble popped when the bus pulled from the curb and eased down the road, with Duchess Mimidae announcing, “Congratulations to Lady Arden Roosa, our sole winner.” I hadn’t even heard her board.
Weak cheers greeted the pronouncement. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I slunk down. As my fingers curled around the Rock, Domino materialized, seated beside me. He didn’t say anything, didn’t even glance in my direction, but calm washed over me. Until Cyrus’s request boomed, a harbinger I could no longer ignore.
